Legacy

Warm and bright.

The change was instant; one moment a cold that seeped through his skin as if to freeze his very soul and a mysterious and ominous darkness that veiled his sight.

He felt a shock-wave through his bones as, out of thin air, spawned a thing that bore the likeness of a mini sun. It devoured the darkness with such hunger that forced Michael out of his trance like thoughts.

In the next moment, a red glow, mixed in white, illuminating the expansive void—that Michael realized was as empty as it's silence predicted. It was accompanied by a refreshing warmth that covered his skin and devoured the cold that he had come to appreciate.

Before him, twisting in on itself, was a mass of red ribbons that hovered in place. Shadows wrapped around the being as if called forth from beyond the void and danced around it weaving into the ribbons.

The bright glow reflected in Michael's brown eyes as he warily forced himself to stand, apprehensive of the intrusive presence.

Curiosity and caution tore at him.

On the one hand he wanted—compelled almost—to move closer to the presence and bask in it's warmth; appreciating the intricate dance of its tentacle like extensions, on the other, he wanted to stay in place, lest he antagonize the presence and it lash out.

What was it? he wondered as he gave in to the call that gnawed at his mind and moved a step closer... then another... then another and soon he was close enough to feel his skin crawl with goosebumps at the warm embrace of the apparition.

His eyes gleamed, it was... beautiful, breathtaking even.

He felt a deep nascent desire to stay in it's presence, to worship it with every fiber of his being, to offer himself to it in favor of it's recognition .

A trance; it put him in a trance somehow and his mind was too enthralled to notice, he kept moving closer oblivious of how he had turned into something he loathed... a devotee.

Now he stood dozens of steps away from it, it's glow seemingly dimmed—as if to accommodate his fragile brown eyes that sparkled with awe and reverence.

This close, it's shape became evident.

It was not a ball of light, or a mini sun, it was something that had the semblance of a man.

The red and black of the shadows that comprised it dance in perfect harmony and synchrony that made for a mesmerizing sight.

Ribbons wrapped around the figure; not too close to the body, hovering above it in the outline of a sphere as if impeded by an invincible force that repelled them against the beings body.

It's body glowed with a dim white; in relation to the shadows that were more pronounced, it's figure was lean with enough muscle definition to put a frail Michael to shame.

It's physique was toned, as if under severe and dedicated training, like the chiseled figure of a greek champion. The contours of it's figure lacked blemishes, looking pristine and perfect.

"Beautiful", he uttered under his breath in almost a sigh, like a loved one to her lover.

And it was nothing short of it, the being hovered above the ground, like a god among men.

It acknowledged his presence and hovered closer to him. Michael felt his blood rush and his heart palpitate at such a rate that it would have made him dizzy if not for the trance like state he was in.

The man hovered closer and the ribbons unfurled extending outward to wrap in a spherical dome around them. The ribbons left enough room between them to allow one to see inside but covered up enough that there was not enough space to get in or out without making contact with them.

A light melodious chuckle escaped the figure as if flattered by Michael's attention and Michael felt his cheeks become warm like a girl in love.

His heart skipped a bit as he yearned for the beings appreciation.

This was very much unlike him, but his mind was to far gone for rational thought.

The being of light was now mere steps away, staring at Michael in amusement, it's bearing majestic and authoritative.

It regarded him with the likeness of a master to a servant, it's head held high and chest out in pride and authority.

"What are you?" Michael allowed himself to ask, feeling unworthy to ask of the beings identity, but so curious and enthralled that he didn't care for any repercussions.

"Legacy", it uttered that one word in a mesmerizing voice that howled over the void and graced Michael's ears as a light melody of the perfect, most beautiful song.

He smiled, stupefied by the voice and even more mesmerized by the godlike presence.

Whatever it's request would be, his answer would be yes; that is what he purposed in his heart. How could he say no to a being of such majesty and grace.

Kings and Queens were respected, feared and some even revered, but this being promised to sit above them. It carried itself with such grace that it's power, might and reach became undeniable.

"Yes", he found himself saying, it was instinctive like an involuntary movement that his body had conditioned itself to perform. His mouth seemed to move on it's own, the conviction in his heart adding weight to his words, their truth and sincerity becoming as plain as day.

The being chuckled, this time it was lengthy, as if allowing Michael to savor the melody.

"Be my vessel", it requested like a lover proposing to his loved as it extended it's arm towards him.

Of course he would agree, who in their right mind would say no?

He lifted his arm to meet the one offered, the ribbons opened up wider, then they surged forward and into Michael.

It was a beautiful feeling, serene even.

The shadows seeped into his skin without causing him any discomfort, the ribbons wrapped around him and lost their red sheen taking on the darkness of the void. His iris became a kaleidoscope of red white and black, like a fractured mirror that only knew this three shades.

He felt himself become stronger, the weakness that had plagued him and the inadequacy he had felt, all were like chaff in the wind; blown away by the presence of great, boundless and unimaginable power that soaked into his being.

The ribbons burrowed under his skin, becoming one with it. His skin crawled with movement as the ribbons slithered into place.

The darkness of the shadow bonded to his skin, it's texture that of silk—as if woven from it.

Then, something he hadn't hoped, or even dreamt of happened.

It was not subtle or beautiful, it was chaotic and rocked his very soul. His sense of self, shattered like glass, he almost heard it break.

First his will was split from him; his desire for strength, his hatred for it and for weakness all left his mind shattering his will and draining him of his strength and... Hope.

Then his pain and hatred for life. He felt his resentment for his earlier life loose form and be replaced by an emptiness. He held none of his earlier emotions. He felt... Empty.

Then finally, his identity became hazy, like a fog. He felt detached from what it meant to be human, he became a husk—a figment almost—of what it meant to be... human.

"Become formless, become fragmented", the being spoke in the same voice, calm and unbothered. It didn't care that Michael was beginning to panic, or that the serenity that had clouded his mind was replaced by pain. A pain so deep it ached at his soul.

Darkness so deep it threatened to devour reality itself, flowed from Michael and coalesced into the figure of a man and with it his skin lost its dark bearing.

"Go forth, first king of the Nether, rule the nether in the past and the future. Own my strength, become worthy of his majesty's domain."

The figure disappeared in a cloud of darkness and was no longer in sight.

Red shadows, the color of blood flowed and formed the figure of a man, tentacles projected from it's being—like the ribbons had around the Legacy— writhing and twisting in the air with such menace that they threatened to destroy anything and everything. It exuded devotion and valor, the desire to protect and the boundless wrath of an angered god.

"Go forth, warrior of blood, challenge darkness, accept none who's will is crippled and muddled."

The figure disappeared in flames as red as a bloodied battle field.

White shadows coalesced in the figure of a man, their radiance promising to blind all who gazed at it's heart.

"Go forth, light, bringer of life, when imbalance prevails and he plagued by it seeks you out, purify their heart, bond to their darkness and offer rest to the chaos. Usher a new dawn, break the last seal and let his presence be felt by every soul."

The being of light dissipated in a radiance so white it momentarily over-shined the godlike apparition.

Now all that was left was a wailing Michael and the Legacy.

"Thank you", it said, it's voice sounding exhausted but concealed by the melody it carried.

"Go forth into the nether, let your heart become tainted and your soul bloodied, when chaos devours your mind seek out the light and from your heart, unshackle Death.

Farewell, harbinger of he who commands souls, make a mockery of fates will and break her binds."

With those final words, Michael disappeared in a cloud of darkness.

"Master, it is done", it spoke and disappeared following Michael and flowing into his body as his unconscious self fell through the dark void.

A plea rang through the void it's melody enthralling carrying a desire that gave it weight.

"Become Death"